One of the most deeply rooted traditions of the municipality of Tíjola has once again filled the streets of Tíjola with colour and religious fervour. The festivities of the Virgin of Fatima have once again impressed visitors with more than 1,500 metres of ‘carpets of coloured sawdust’ that run through some of the main streets thanks to the immense work of neighbours and associations.
The festivities, which will be declared of Andalusian Tourist Interest this summer, began yesterday with a popular paella, live music and a popular street party.
The vice-president of the Diputación, Fernando Giménez, walked through the streets of the municipality with the mayor of Tíjola, José Juan Martínez, who proudly showed him one of the traditions that has been kept alive in the municipality since 1951. Giménez highlighted the effort made by the Town Hall to give a tourist component to this tradition that dates back to the 50’s. “Congratulations for combining tourism and culture, and for achieving the involvement of the whole municipality around a festival that is unique in the province of Almería”.
For his part, the mayor, has detailed that they are one of the most identity festivals in which all the neighbours turn to achieve one of the most impressive manifestations of ephemeral art in Andalusia”.
This festival consists of dressing the streets where the Virgin Mary passes through with a carpet of more than a kilometre and a half of dyed sawdust”.